She started to walk, her steps slow and deliberate. She circled the hospital like her mom’s doctor had advised her to be doing. Her legs protested with every step, but she persevered, and went on.
After the second round, she found a shady spot beneath a large oak tree, its branches heavy with leaves. She sat down on the bench supporting her back with her hand.
Laura felt the baby stir within her, a tiny kick against her ribs. A smile touched her lips. And she decided to pull a call to Trevor.
“Hello my love,” Trevor said when he answered, his voice cheerful from the other end. “How are you doing?”
“Hey, honey,” she replied, her voice a little shaky. “How are things at work?”
“Just the usual chaos,” he chuckled, “but manageable. How’s Mom this afternoon?”
“She’s fine,” Laura paused. “She’s sleeping now, though. I’m outside trying to get some fresh air.”
“It’s fine,” he said. “What about Dad? Is he still in the hospital?”
“He’s okay.” she cleared her throat. “He is here. In fact, the doctor just convinced him to take a walk around for some time.”
“He’s such a reliable person,” he said.
Laura snorted.
“I know you have your differences, but that’s the truth, Laura.”
“I know,” she agreed reluctantly. “The doctor said will discharge her tomorrow.”
“That is good news,” he said, his happiness showing in his voice.
“I miss you,” she whispered, her voice catching. “I wish you were here with me.”
“I miss you too,” Trevor said, his voice filled with longing. “Don’t worry, it’s almost Saturday. I’ll be there with you in flesh and blood.”
“Yeah,” she gave a long sigh. “I know, and I am counting the minutes.”
They both burst into laughter. There was a knock on Trevor’s door.
“I’m sure that is Professor Austin,” Trevor told Laura. “We have a meeting now. I have to go now. I will call you when I get home later in the evening.”
“I’ll be expecting your call,” her hand went to her baby bump. “I love you.”
“Love you more,” he whispered to her and asked the person knocking on his door to come in.
Her father appeared beside her as she returned her phone to her pocket.
Harvey cleared his throat. “May I?” He asked, gesturing towards the space beside her.
Laura looked up into his face and held it for a moment. She wanted to stand up and leave, but she changed her mind and gave him a slight nod of her head.
“Thank you,” he murmured and sat down.
“How are you, Laura? And the baby?” He asked what he had been dying to ask since she arrived home two weeks ago.
“Fine, I guess,” she shrugged.
He nodded, his face etched with the lines of regret. For the life of him, he didn’t know how to talk to his own daughter. The child that used to be his closest after his wife.
He swallowed hard. He really wanted to say something, but he was afraid of saying the wrong thing. Whenever he started asking for her forgiveness, she would say there was no need for it. That he should forget it and she would walk away from him. He really wanted to talk with her now that she didn’t try to walk away.
Mr. Gray needed her to forgive him. He was sorry….. If it was possible to change the hands of time, he would do it.
He looked at her again and gave a melancholic smile. She was his mother’s carbon copy in every way, his fierce, fierce mother of blessed memory.
“Laura,” he cleared his throat, a sound that seemed to echo the years of their estrangement. “I am sorry for everything. Please forgive me.”
“Dad…,” she called out, her voice trailing off.
“I don’t want us to continue like this. You are about to have a baby. I want to be involved in his life as much as possible.” He blabbed on, “I can’t do that if you and I are not on talking terms. I’m sorry for all the pains and tears I caused you.”
Surprisingly, Laura burst into tears. “You left us, you abandoned us,” she scoffed. “Leelah, couldn’t handle it, she…died.”
Her tears stabbed his heart. He moved closer to her and held her in his hands.
“I’m so sorry about your sister,” a lone tear dribbled down his cheek. “I am so sorry.”
She pulled away from him and asked, “why did you leave us? Weren’t we enough for you?”
“I left because I was a coward. I allowed my family members to get into my head.”
“You know what Daddy,” she said and cleaned her face. “I don’t think this is the time and place. Let me go and check up on Mom.” She stood up and was about to walk away as usual.
But he held her hand. “If not for anything, please forgive me because of my grandchild.”
Torn between the little administration she had developed for him with the way he’d been treating their mom since he came back and the pain of his betrayal, she burst into tears again.
“I’m sorry, princess,” he gathered her in his arms, his grandchild in her belly between them. “I know I hurt you, but I promise I will never, ever disappoint you again.” He pleaded, his voice cracking.
“How can I forget the pains and agony I went through?” She thought to herself with her shoulders shaking with a silent sob. But something had already shifted in her.
“I know I messed up,” he said, his voice thick with emotion. “I was heartless. I was a fool. I hurt you, your brother, and your mom, and I’m so sorry.”
He waited, his heart aching with every passing second. Finally, she turned her face up to meet his gaze. Her eyes were red and swollen, her face streaked with tears.
“Daddy,” she wailed, her voice choking with emotion.
He cupped her face in his hands, like he used to do when she was younger and was afraid of something.
“I’m sorry,” he said again, his voice barely above a whisper. His own tears spilling down his cheeks.
“Oh daddy,” she clung to him, burying her face in his shoulder, crying away her hurt.
He held her tight, whispering apologies into her hair, vowing to be better, to be the father she deserved.